Machine for handling material for tunnel-arch construction.



EAIENTEN AUG. 23,1906. E. G. WILLIAMS G E. E. EEGWN. v MACHINE EGEHANDLING MATERIAL EOE TUNNEL ANGE GoNsIEIrGtIIoN.4

APPLICATION FILED APE.3,1906. 4.SHEETS SHBBT 1 PATENTBD AUG. 2 8; '1906E. G. WILLIAMS L E. H. BROWN.v v v MACHINE IOR HANDLING MATERIAL ICRTUNNEL ARCH CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3, 1906.

bSHEETS-SEEET 2.

Qx D.

MNRAS IAL | I l l l l I I l l I l PATEN'I'ED AUG. 28, 1906.

E. G. WILLIAMS & E. HBROWN.

MACHINE FOR HANDLING MATERIAL FOR TUNNEL ARCH CONSTRUCTION. iAPPLIQATIONMLED APAS, 190,6.

4 SHEETS-SHEET a,

N0.v 829,903. l EATENTEII AUG. 2G

E. G. WILLIAMS L E. E. EEGWN. MAGEINE EGE HANDLING MATERIAL EOE TUNNELARGE GoNsTEUGIIoN.

APPLICATION FILED APBHB, 1906.

4 SHBETS-SHBLET 4.

win/Lanza:

' ing to receive the backfill.

-m the construction of rock-tunnels, where UNITED PATENT OFFIOE;

EDWARD e. WILLIAMS AND ELMER H. BROWN, 4or WASHINO'ION,

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

MACHINE FOR HANDLING MATERIAL-FOR. TUNNEL-ARCH CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent. A

I'atented .A u'g. 28,1906.

nrlcation led April 3, 1906. Serial No. 309.683.

This invention relates to tunnel construe-- tion.

In soft-ground tunnels, whereY the overlyingl material issupportedtemporarily by timbering before the permanent masonry is constructed,there is a comparatively small working space left between the completedpermanent tunnel-arch and the temporary timber- The same is truetimber-ing may or may not be necessary, but where some formof artificiallining is considered advisable and where it is necessary to fill thespace existing between. the exterior surface of the completed arch andthe rock or timbering above.

Where the permanent arch has been constructed of any materialselected-such as concrete, brick, stone, iron, or'steel-it is necessaryto fill the remaining space over the,

arch with whatever material has been selected for backiill, usuallyconcrete, earth, broken stone, or gravel, or a combination of these,such as a haunch and crown filling of concrete directly over and aroundthe arch with earth filling above. Owing to the fact that no feasiblemechanical appliance has been constructed that would work effectively`in this contracted space the filling has heretofore been handled bybeing passed upward and back into position by shoveling or by somesimilar laborious procedure.

To eliminate the above-named objectionable features in a tunnelconstruction and to K expedite and to cheapen the work is "the object-ofthe present invention, and this object is secured by the provision of anovel and thoroughly practical form -of apparatus that will In a rapid,continuous, and positive man,-

1 ner deliver thematerial to any'point onthe exterior surfaceor radiusof a'tunnel-arch irrespective of Its width and Inward beyond the face ofthe tunnel to anyl reasonable dis.-`

tance. In addition, where the tunnel-arch is built of concrete the sameconditions described as to restricted space exist between the surfacesof the forms on which the arch is constructed and the timbering above,or in a rock-tunnel the natural rock surface above.

Under these conditions-, that is, with a concrete arch-the arch itselfas well as' the haunch filling and backiilling can be built in anexpeditious and economical manner by the apparatushereinafter-described.v Mechanisms for accomplishing these results areexhibited in the accompanying drawings, in

which like characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts, and inwhich- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation exhibiting one embodiment ofthe invention. Fig.

2 1s a plan view ofthe apparatus shown in 3 I Fig. l with certain of theparts omitted. Fig. 3 is a view'in side elevation of a modified `form ofthe invention. Fig. 4 is a view in end elevation of the apparatus shownin Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 6 are-detailviews of portions of theiapparatus.Fig. 7 is a view in plan of a portion of the substructure. Fi 8 is a de#tail view, on an enlarged scale, or a portion of the mechanism as shownin Fig. 1.'

Referring to the drawings, and to Figs. l and 2 thereof, A designatesthetower or substructure of the apparatus, which may be of any preferredconstruction, and supports a deck preferably of the full width of thetunnel. The tower is mounted upon suitable wheels a, that travel ontracks a2, disposed parallel with but outside'of the tracks for theexcavating and other mechanisms employed in constructing tunnels.

The framework ofv the tower is of such height that the deck will f5 beelevated asufiicient distance above the track-bed to permit allof therollingstock employed in removing the excavated material and su plyingthe building, material i freely to trave without-interruption, so that 7i each of theapparatuses may operate without in the least interferingwith the others, and

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thus expedite and further the operations that are being' carried on.

At the front portion ofthe deck is mounted i a stationary hoistingapparatus, designated generally B, and at its rear portion ismount# ed acantaliver .swinging conveyer, designated generally C. The hoistingapparatus B embodies a framework consisting in this :imc anni.'

61 the lower ends of which are socketcd in v 1 i 1 lhe upper ends of thebraces 6J the deck.

are niortised into the posts 61, while the upper ends of the braces 61bear against a crossplate 611, firmly bolted to the upper ends of theposts 6 and to which is secured finit-beam 611. To hold the posts 6 and61 against Yielding to any strain to which they may be subjected andwhich would tend to distort the frame ltie-rods 67 are' employed thatpass through the posts 61, braces 63, and web of the beam 66, and areadjusted as to tension by terminal nuts 611, that bear against the posts62 and web of the beam 611. f

The frame thus igenerally above described has been found thoroughlyefiicient in operation in resisting strains and withstanding hard usage;but, as will be obvious,`other forms could readily be constructed that:

would. serve equallyT well for the same purpose, and therefore it is tobe understood that the invention is not to be limited to the parvticular arrangement herein shown and. de-

scribed.

Secured to and connecting the upper ends of the posts 62 is an lt-beam6, to an intermediate portion of which is bolted or otherwise securedthe upper end of an inclined oeani 61, the lower end of which isdowncurved and suitably secured to the beam 611 adjacent to one of thebraces 64. rllhe beam 6111 constitutes a track' for'a trolley,comprising ahead 611, two rollers 611, and a sheave 6 111. The rollersare disposed on opposite sides Aof the web of the beam 61" andaredesigned to travel on the upper faces of the under flanges thereof, asshown in Fig. 5. The sheave is disposed on one side of the head and isengaved bya hoisting-rope 61, which has one en secured to the head onthe side opposite the sheave and its other end connected with a suitablehoisting mechanism hereinafter described.4 The bend or loop of the ropeis engaged by the sheaive of a vhook-block 615, which is provided forthe purpose of elevating the bucket 61, that supplies the filling inaterial, and is furnished with the usual dumping-door to be operated byhand. To limit the movements of the trolley relative to the beam 6111,stops 617 are provided at the terminals of the track with which theAhead engages at the limit of its forward and rearward movements. Thetrack 6111 is herein shown as laterally deflected or obliquely-disosedrelatively to the longitudinal center inc of the deck to clear overheadtrolley- Wires and alsol to permit the use ofthe hoisting or elevatingapparatuswith a two-track tunnel, as it will be seen that under theseconditions the latforin -car suoporting the bucket will a ways bedisposed close to one ,side of the tower, andthus in `position to allowthe hook-block to engage the bucket. if, however, `the track were singieand provided with sidings, there would bc stretches in its length wherethe platform-car would be equally distanced from the sides of the tower,and the bucket could not, under such conditions, be' lifted. unless thetrack 611 were straight, whence it will be seen that theobliquely-i'lisposed track is necessary iii tunnels eiiiployingr doubletracks. The track may, however, if preferred be disposed parallel withthe longitudinal center line of the deck.

The object in having the lower end portion 61S of the track 6111downturned or curved, as more clearly shown inFig, 1, is to prevent thetrolley from moving backward when draft is first applied to thehoisting-rope 611, which would cause the rope to assume an angularposition, with the result that the bucket would contact with thedeck-timbers, and thus interfere with the operation of `the apparatus.Vheii the bucket has reached the limit of its upward movement, it isattached by a workman to the trolley by means of a hook 6111, carried bya short sectioii of chain secured to the trolley-head, and which ishooked into engagement with the bail of the bucket, so that when thelatter has been moved to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1and is dumped upon-the hoisting-drum being reversed to allow the bucket.

to resume its` normal position the bucket will not drop into the.inater-ial-.recci ving hopper H, which would otherwise result if thehook 61g were not I iiovided;

T.heq swinging conveyor C, which constiktutes one of the essentialfeatuiesofthis invention comprises in part a base consisting of aplurality of channel sill-beams c, that arc connected and transverselybraced at their forward and adjacent to their rear ends by trusses c2and c3. Disposed beneath the sillbeams is series of transverse -beams c4and c5, that are suitably secured to the deck-timbers, and each seriesofthe beams ci and c5 carries curved it-beam tracks c and c7,respectively, the track c being carried by the beams c1 and the track c7by the beam c5.V T heupper faces of the latter track are engaged `byrollers C8, carried by the sill-bcains c,while the base-anges of theformer track are engagged by pairs of rollers 01, carried by brack-` etsC111, rigid with the sill-beams c. The base is centered for swingingmovement in ahori- Zontal plane by a pin c11, that is carried by thetrusses c3 and engages a bearing C12 sup- I l ported by the inner pairof transverse if IOO IIO

Owing to the contracted space which `these mechanisms must necessarilyoccupy, it is preferred .that they shall be electrically driven 3 but,as will be obvious, other forms of tally-disposed discharge-section c2",the frame' members of which are connected and braced by cross-trusses021 and brace-plates c2?, the frame members being rigid throughout theirentire length and having permanent angular disposition relative to ea'chother. The feedsection c1D is composed of two structural iron Vstringersor members o23, the lower end portions of which are suitably secured tothe sillbeams c'and the upper portions to a pair of 'posts 020. posed oftwo structural -iron stringers or members c25, that are secured to andsupportedea't their rear ends by the pair of posts C24 and intermediateof their ends by a second pair of posts C26. The lower ends of the twopairs ofposts are secured to foot-plates C27, that are' firmly boltedand riveted to the sillbeams c. J ByV the arrangement of the stringersand posts as described it will be seen that it constitutesa'cantaliver-frame, andI not only is the forward end of the feed-sectionof the conveyer frame l,Supported against downward yield, but that thedischarge-section as a whole is braced both against lifting at its rearend and dropping at its forward end, so that its positive retention in ahorizontal plane at all times is'assured. This is a feature of theyutmost importance, inasmuch as owing to the contracted space in whichthe apparatus works no overhead guys can be employed to support theforward end of the conveyerframe, and as the downward pressure on the vdischarge-section is very great it is absolutely necessary that someenicient means be provided to counteract any tendency onthe part l t ofthe frame to yield, and this is effectively secured by the larrangementof cantalivers l shown. f

charge-sectionembodies two wooden reinforcing frame-pieces 023,.Fig.6,.that are bolted to the stringers and carry on their upper and loweredges j ournal-bo'xesA c29 and c3", the f former of which supportspool-shaped con- F lindrical conveyer-belt guide-rollers c. The

stringers C23 carry similarjournal-boxes and guide-rollers. Theserollersare engaged by the-endless conveyer-belt .03?, which is of theusual or any preferred construction and works on the upper surfaces ofthe two sets of guide-rollers, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. In

-'addition to the guide-rollers the. stringers carry a snub-roller 034,.wlile the sill-beams A 6 5 support two similar snub-'rollers C35 ando,as

The discharge-section omis comlveyer-.belt guide-rollers C31 andthelatter cl the usual practice the conveyer-belt is driven at a point somedistance from its lower end, thus to afford more `room for andprotection to the driving mechanism.

The hopper H, that receives the concrete from the bucket, is supportednear the rear end of the base and discharges near the lower end of theconveyer-belt and is provided with the usual hinged bottom to beoperated by hand to discharge its contents. It will be noted byreference to Fig. 1 that the trolley will be stopped at'a point on thetrack b1, that will bring the bottom of the bucket directly over thehopper, so that accurate discharge ofthe contents of the former will beassured'.

As will be seen with reference to Fig. 1 the f conveyer-belt passesaround the two sets of guide-rollers, thence over the snub-roller c,thence around the drum C17, thence over the snub-rollers 035 and c3, andthence around the roller 037. `The face of the drum is preferablycoveredk by india-rubber to `give it the maxi- 'mumbadhesiom .andacooperative relation between the belt and the drum is always secured bymeans of the Vtension device c.

The apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2` is adapted for work upon singletunnels of. y

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any'predetermined distance, and thus 'in a Where the apparatus is tobeused in conjunction with a single tunnel containing four or more tracks,the arc that 'will necessarily have to be traversed-by theconveyer-frameto deposit the iilling will be"so vgreat that the material would bedeposited at such distance from the Lammers as to require eXtrashoveling, and to obviate this anadditional tower 0r substructure D maybe employed, as

` shown inV Fig. 4, which will occupy a position' alongside thetWer'upon whic'hthe mechanism is supported, and assoIon as an effectivearea of the tunnel'has been supplied with the filling the superstructurewill be shifted from the first tower A to lthe supplemental tower D, andwhen the work-has been cornpleted bythe apparatus .on this tower the vpractical manner secure the objectsought. j .111' addition tothestringers c25 the vdis-- te j .est 1 provision is made for supplyingbackiilling. -or other material in a positive and eXpedi-' tious mannerto any part of an arch tor adjusting the conveyer relatively to theradius of the arch, thus to permit ci the filling or other materialbeing supplied at the haunches and forl adapting the apparatus for usein tunnels of any size.

Azo

As will be manifest, by mechanically feeding or delivering thebacktilling or other inateiial to the place where it is distributedlarge number ot employees heretofore necessary in wheeling the materialin barrows will be dispensed with, thereby effecting a large saving intime, labor, and expense in the construction of tunnels.

Owing t'o the simplicity of the construction of the apparatus liabilityof derangeinent in use is reduced to a minimum, and,

further, in case of damage repairs may readily and easily be effected,:is all thepaits may be constructed in standard sizes and be thusinterchangeable. l

lhat we claim is- 1. In a machine for handling material tor tunnel-archconstruction, a conveyer having its discharge end disposed in asubstantially horizontal plane, a cantaliver :Ls described forsupporting the saidend, and means toi'- vertically adjusting the saidend while main-v taining it in such plane. Y

2. ln a machine for handling material for tunnel-arch construction, aconveyer having its discharge end disposed in a substantially horizontalplane, a cantaliver described for supporting the said end, means forvertically adjusting the said end while maintaining it in such plane,and means for supplying material to the conveyer.

3.. In a machine for handling material lfor tunnel-arch construction, aconveyer having one end disposed in a substantially horizontal plane, acantaliver as described for supporting the said end, 4and means forbodily adjusting the conveyer in a vertical plane and maintaining saidend in a substantially horizontal plane.

4. ln a machine for handling material for tunnel-arch construction, thecombination with a substructure and a stationary hoisting-frame thereon,of a conveyer laterally swinging in a horizontal plane andhaving its,lower endpdispose d beneath the said frame.

5. In a machine for handling material for tunnel-arch construction,v thecombination with a substructure, of a stationary hoisting-hunne thereon,elevating nechanisni supported by the frame, a laterally-swingingconveyer having its lower end disposed beneath the frame, and a hopper.supported over the conveyer.

(i. ln a machine for handling material for tunnel-arch construction, thecombination with'a tunnel having the usual tracks, of a substructurebridging the tracks and forniing a passage-way in conjunction therewithand supporting elevating mechanism.

7. The combination with a substantially horizontal conveyer arranged todischarge material between a tunnel-roof and centering, of means 'foradjusting the said conveyer vertically while maintaining itsubstantially horizontal.

8. A machine for handling material for tunnel-arch construction,embodying 'hoisting and conveying mechanisms and two relatively movablesubstructures upon which the said mechanisms are interchangeablysupported.

S). ln a machine forhandling material for tunnel-arch construction, aconveyer having a horizontally-disposed krigid section and acantaliver-support disposed beneath the section.

y l0. ln a machine tor handling material fortunucl-arch construction, aconveyer comprising inclined and horizontally disposed sections, and acantaliver-suppoit disposed beneath the horizontal section, Y

ll. In a machine for handling material for tunnel-arch construction, aswinging conveyer comprising inclined and horizontally- IOC disposedsections, and a cantaliver-support l disposed beneath the sections.

12'. ln a machine for handling material for tunnel-arch construction, aswinging vconveyer comjiiising an inclined section, ahorizontally-disposed section, and a cantaliversupport with. which thetwo sections are rig'- idly connected.

13. ln a machine Afor handling material tor tunnel-arch construction,the combination with a tunnel having the usual tracks, cfa substructurevbridging the tracks and forming a passage-way in conjunction therewithand supporting elevating and conveying mechanisms.

14. ln a machine lor handling material for tunnel-arch construction, thecombination with a tunnel provided with the usual tracks,

.of a supplemental track having its rails disposed outside of thefirst-named tracks, and a substructure, carrying hoisting and conveyingmechanisms, ruiming on the supplemental track and forming a passage-wayto permit the travel of rolling-stock over the first-named tracks l5. Amachine for handling material for tunnel-arch construction embodyinghoisting and conveying mechanisms, and two sub- TIO structures uponwhich the vsaid mechanisms are interchangeably supported.

16. In a machine for. handling material for tunnel-arch construction,the combination 5 with a tunnel having the usual tracks, of a towerbridging the tracks and forming a passage-Way in conjunction therewith,a conveyer mounted upon the tower and having a substantially horizontalportion arrangedtom 'io -discharge material between the tunnelfroof andcentering, and' means for elevating ma terial from the tunneletracks tothe con-l 'veyerx Y l A` 17. A' machine for handling material'for r5r'tunnel-arch construction, embodying a sub` structure constituting apassagefway., a conveyer -mounted. uponthe vvsubstructure andl Ahaving asubstantially horizontal portion' arranged to discharge material.between the 2o tunnelfroof andcenteringy andi/means for elevatingmaterial rromtheI tunnel-floor to the conveye'r. l

y 18." In a machine for handling'. material for tunnel-archconstructio'n,--y the combination 2 5 with a substructure Varrangedtoprovide` a passage-way,- of a conveyermounted 'upon'A thesubstructureand arranged to discharge material" between the tunnel-roofand 'cen` tering. l'

3o 19. Inn a machine for handling material for. tunnel-arch.construction, ythel combination with a substructure arrfmgedv to providea' passage-way', of a conveyer mounted upon the substructure `andarranged' to .discharge 3 5 materialbetweenthe-tunnel-roof and cen-'.tering, and means fo the conveyei'.' v y 20. In amachine for handlingVmaterial forv tunnel-arch/ construction, --the @combination -theconveyer. v f Y 22. In a machinefor handling material for 5 51 r tering.

tures to this specification in the presence of r supplying material to jI with a substructure arranged to provide ,a passage-way, of a conveyermounted upon the substructure and having'a substantially tunnel-archconstruction,` the' combination withv a. substructure arranged toprovide -a passage-way,` of a conveyer movable upon the substructureandarranged to dischargeV materialbetween the tunnel-roof and Icen-y 2-3.In a machine for handling material for v tunnel-arch construction, thecombination y' I "with, a lsubstructure arranged to provide a jv"paussage-way, offa conveyer lmovable uponv 65 the'substructure andarranged to dischargematerial between the tun`nel-roofl and centeringand means for. supplying materialto ,the conveyer.. v

- In testimonyuwhereof Awe ali-X our signa-vv two witnesses.

lEDWARD G. WILLIAMS. l VELMER H. BROWN. Y `INitnesses-zl y HENRY E.TRI'PB, l C. E.l WORTHINGTON.'

